Composers & Works for Wagner Tuba

Considering the importance of the Wagner Tuba in the orchestral world, it is surprising how few ‘great’ composers have featured the instrument in their works. The list is small but here it is essentially:

Richard Wagner

Anton Bruckner

Arnold Schoenberg

Richard Strauss

Igor Stravinsky

Bela Bartok

In our research we found a few modern day composers to add to this list:

Stephen Caudelwho in 1993 had a World Premiere of his “Edel Rhapsody”, the first concert piece ever written to feature Solo Bb Tenor Wagner Tuba and Orchestra. Click here to read more

Andrew Downes who in October 2005 had a performance by the Czech Philharmonic Horns of his 5 Dramatic Pieces for 8 Wagner Tubas. Click here to read more

Jan Koetsier who in 1911 wrote Skurrile Elegie über Richard Wagner for Wagner Tuba and String Quartet. Click here to read more

Jorge Lopezwho composed eleven works for Wagner tuba including ‘Gonzales the Earth Eater for Solo Wagner Tuba and Four Instruments’ (1996) and ‘Dome Park for 82 Instrumentalists’ (1993) including 8 Wagner tubas (four in B-flat, four in F). Click here to read more

Elisabeth Lutyens who in 1960 wrote “Quincunx” in which she revived the use of a quartet of Wagner Tubas. Click here to read more